Extra Hollow Ground

Hello all,

I have been slowly going through different razors trying to figure out what my preference is. So far, of the razors I use, I have a carbon steel and a stainless steel hollow ground, and a carbon steel 1/4 ground. I would like to move onto an extra hollow ground and I was wondering if anybody knew of any current production razors that would fit the bill. Eventually I would like to have one in carbon steel and stainless, but I figure I will go with the carbon first.

So far, I have found that the dovo prima klang is extra hollow ground. Is this the thinnest grind that dovo makes? Does TI offer an extra hollow ground razor?

I am looking for an edge with a lot of flex to it. I wouldn't mind a vintage blade as long as it is of high quality, but I am leaning toward the newer razors if it is possible. Of the vintage razors, I have read that some ERNs, a gotta 120, a jung, and some friodurs are extra hollow ground, but those can be hard to come by.

Would the prima klang be my best bet?

TI bills theirs as "Singing" same diff
Most of the new razors are full hollows... some are extra full or singing but if you really want those super thin high flex blades you are going to have to go Vintage...

A few brands that come to mind as you are now in my favorite type of razor category :D

Dubl Duck
Beau Brummel
Hess
C-MON
Craftsman (newer)
The Case family, Kinfolks, Cattaraugus, there are many
Some of the Genco's, the "Easy Aces" comes to mind
KA-BAR Good luck finding one..
Shumate has tons of them
Kama

Those are just a few off the top of my head..

This category isn't my strongest, but there may be some for you at shavingshop.com

The one that jumped out at me is the Otto Bush "world master". I have one and that to me is a very hollow ground almost singing type. Like I said, this is a weak category for me (as I'm still fairly new) but I really like my world master (194 on tang).

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Dave

Prima Klang, or any other full hollow by Dovo should do. I own a Bergischer Löwe that would certainly fit the bill. But so would most Wackers. Never mind the rants in another forum, Wacker produces very nice razors: Different ways to hold a straight razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki. This one is stunning, but it comes at a hefty price: "Old Sheffield" First Edition, 5/8" - Meisterarbeit The Different Scent:.

I have a Kropp that is very 'fine', also a Chas Clements, a Genco Head Barber,Fontain, Gotta 120 and a couple of others. I know of a cheap Puma 4 or5/8 that I might shnaffle soon too.:gaah: Damn credit crunch RAD:cry: It's got a tiny bit of rust, but I'll wave my little wand !!!!!!!!!
I must say, I think, once you can hone reasonably well, these ultra light/fine blades are very easy to hone and may well be the final evolution of Straights.
Even I can get one super-keen.

I have many razors, sold a bunch, got a bunch, but I have never parted with a Wacker, Dorko.

I agree, my Wacker is full hollow and I enjoy it as much as any more famous labelled razors. Sharp, smooth and comfortable and easy to hone.

Many old English Sheffield razors are full hollow and sing. They just didn't advertise the fact as they took it for granted.

The singing bit isn't all that important in my opinion. It just means the blade will be more flexible.

The thing about hollowing is that it allows the blade to get closer to the skin and therefore gives a safer shave.

The hollowed razor has a natural gap between the face and the blade and the lather on the face will miss the blade on a normal pass. The wedge at the same angle will draw against the soap. The weight of the wedge compensates to some extent, but certainly in the 1900's the hollow razor was considered a safety improvement.

You need to hold a wedge at a greater angle to the face than a full hollow so as to stop the lather sucking up against the blade and this is basically not as safe a way to shave because the greater the angle, the more chance of nicks and cuts.

So a full hollow is safer to use than a wedge.
But what you often loose in a full hollow is the weight of the blade and this can lead to a wishy washy shave.

Some full hollows (my 7/8" wacker for example) has a heavy spine which gives the weight together with a full hollowed singing (flexible ) blade. It sort of has all of the theoretical text book advantages.

Still all of this said, some of the old wedges despite the theoretical disadvantages just give one hell of a shave.

Conclusion, shaving is an art and not a science and you really don't know which razors you will love or hate until you try them.

The more you try, the more you realise why there is such a vast array of choice out there.

That's the fun of it all.